• Happy birthday, USA. Two-hundred thirty-three years ago, it went exactly like this:

I heard Jefferson was more of a tenor, but otherwise, spot on.

• We hold these truths to be pursuant to the future profitability of Tostitos. Treading solemnly in the footsteps of the hallowed founders, the modern incarnation of the Congress is providing for the nation's common defense next Tuesday by challenging the BCS as a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, as in the latest issue of the noted policy journal, Sports Illustrated. The Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights announced the witness list for the hearing on Thursday, including University of Utah president Michael Young, University of Nebraska chairman Harvey "I Swear I Will Turn This Car Around" Perlman and antitrust lawyers Barry Brett and William Monts III.

This sets up as the same 2-on-2 format we saw the last time the Series was called to Capitol Hill, with Perlman and Monts (who, according to the Deseret News, has said the BCS doesn't violate antitrust laws) on the side of the status quo and Young and Brett playing the dogged freedom fighters -- uh, minus the usual car bombs and ethnic cleansing, hopefully. The proceedings will be Webcast on the Judiciary Committee's site at 2:30 p.m. ET, if you're interested; no word on C-SPAN.

• King yields to the committee. After two years looking up at Knowshon Moreno (literally and figuratively), ex-blue-chip recruit Caleb King was supposed to stake his claim this year as the next great Georgia running back. But the Macon Telegraph, after talking to redshirt freshman Carlton Thomas, doesn't see any one back emerging:

"Right now we're looking at it as tailback-by-committee," Thomas said. "That's how we're looking at it and everybody's just trying to get better. But maybe if there's a guy that's really doing his thing, it might be (a featured back), but right now, everybody's got to be ready."

Between King, Thomas and Richard Samuel and incoming freshmen Dontavius Jackson and Washaun Ealey added to the mix next month, the Bulldogs have five possible options who have collectively achieved jack on a college field. But Mark Richt is obviously fine without having a go-to workhorse: Before Moreno's breakout season in 2007, the job was split between Thomas Brown, Kregg Lumpkin and Danny Ware from 2004-06, and that trio was quietly outstanding (125 yards per game) en route to UGA's last SEC championship, in 2005. In fact, other than Moreno and Musa Smith in 2002, the Bulldogs have had at least two backs -- and usually three -- finish with somewhere between 300 and 800 yards every year of Richt's tenure. Still, this will be the greenest group since Lumpkin, Michael Cooper, Tyson Browning and Ronnie Powell in 2003.

• Get your bids in before the NCAA hears about it. For the discriminating Gator looking for that just-so centerpiece to bring the room together and confuse snooping neighbors, the "Turtle Trails" organization in Jacksonville has your back:

The Tebow Turtle -- complete with Bible verse eye black -- is one of 24 the organization commissioned and set up around town last year, and will go up for auction in October. Initial cost was $5,000; the Child Guidance Center is going to be very disappointed if it doesn't get that much in return.

Quickly ... Texas A&M cut 17 positions in its athletic department. ... The Swamp is getting new video boards. ... A very strange scheduling wish list. ... More on Rick Neuheisel's world tour from the L.A. Times. ... Offensive lineman Evan Cardwell is finished with football at Alabama thanks to a recurring back injury. ... Auburn quarterback Neil Caudle is just glad to have a chance for a change. ... A felony marijuana charge against Ohio State signee Jaamal Berry have been reduced to a misdemeanor. ... Are they really thinking black jerseys at Tennessee? ... Pete Carroll is supposed to be on vacation, but apparently he'll still be in L.A. to celebrate the Fourth in the Coliseum. ... And I'm not sure "cautious" is the term you're looking for, South Carolina fans.